Frequently Asked Questions

Crossfire is the biggest modding project and by far the most complex mod for the Microsoft Game "Freelancer.". This mod was designed to show the possibilities and features that Freelancer still has to offer.

Crossfire introduces advanced graphics and sound settings which will make the look and feel of the game itself much more interesting. Additionally you will be able to explore 150+ systems with more than 300 dock-able stations and planets.The now released Crossfire 2.0 version has many new functions implemented. Starting with a fully functional nav-map now working in all Crossfire universe sectors (4), continue with an updated and finished main Crossfire story line (which will possibly be expanded upon with further made Side missions!) for Singleplayer and ending with new server RP features and new possibilities for clans in Multiplayer.

For the Crossfire mod also was prepared a variety of changes on the multi-player game play which were made to make it more challenging and also comfortable. Changes were made on almost everything compared to the previous 1.9 version. If you have explored the whole CF 1.9 space, then you should prepare to start exploring again, with many new bigger and smaller details, new star-spheres, dynamic suns, new jumps, hidden systems, new 3D sounds in asteroid fields, cloud layers on Earth type planets,and new updated bases details . Next to these due changes to the RP system, Mercenaries and Police will be much more needed in cases such as when Pirates lurk around and so on. Changes were done also to missions which now offer high-end lvl missions with higher rewards but also way higher difficulty (especially in Altair, which is now a fully usable sector like Sirius). These are just a few examples of many that are possible within this new mod version and its players.

Crossfire 2.0 SP has added new campaign missions, and updated more from old ones (including repairs for some bugs in the vanilla missions) where players play through all previous Crossfire chapters (solo, with a wingman or as part of a squad). It is a completely new look on the Crossfire universe. You always wanted to see how it was when Nomads were in the X or Sol system, how old Coalition was found , what happened and participate in many other old Crossfire stories? ... You want to freely explore during "paused" campaign in CF added missions? You want to know how the Crossfire Main Story will end?? ... well, NOW you have that chance, prepare for an epic experience and burning graphics cards in your PCs ...

Clans are able to rent their own clan system, set their own info-messages for this system, build modular clan bases, including access-right management (not active atm in beta) and participate in Conquest RP (necessary for base upgrades). All in all, CF 2.0 offers many ways to have fun and enjoy time spent in its universe.

Search for folder in your documents where FL save data (default: Documents/MyGames/Frelancer). FIRST save to other place all your SP saves in case you want use them later! Then DELETE WHOLE "Freelancer folder" in documents!

clean your registry completely (sw like CCleaner can do this nicely) and make a restart

OPTIONAL: Do a manual check through your registry for any folder called "Freelancer", "Crossfire", "Freelancer Mod Manager" or "C07ft5Y" and delete them. Then restart PC.

Install the FL-Game (Note: run installer as system administrator!) and make a restart (as suggested from the game anyway, after installation is complete). At this point you may want to copy your clean new FL installation to "backup" place -> Q: Is possible have installed and play more FL mods at once? (... especially usefull if you will need reinstall mod!)

WARNING: If you have newly downloaded installation files (Mod, FLMM in zip), check please these files properties PRIOR you will do something. If you see there option "Unblock" on file properties bottom, USE it. It is some kind of windows protection which works on NTFS discs and is doing unwanted problems if overlooked.

Click on CF setup file and start mod installation. Let it repair/install all Microsoft Visual C++ and also check for required Net Framework.

INFO: The installer is set by default to "Run as system administrator" and therefore you do not need to do it "manually" (it's needed only if your system security will disallow the Installer original settings).

INFO: If you want install CF 2.0 on Windows 8.1 AND experience installer crash, then run Crossfire20setup.exe in compatibility mode for Windows 7!

INFO: If you will experience any problem during mod installation, then clean your registry (ccleaner) and do install again

Once installed is auto-open FLMM and there you check CF 2.0 for activation.

Set your preferences for mod activation and let mod activate (may take some time, it's big mod).

Now you have fully prepared CF 2.0 and can run laucher.

INFO: Updates are loaded AFTER you click SP (you will be asked if you want to do it) or MP. Is advised to let game update for first time also in SP.

INFO: If there is/will be released any update to the launcher itself, it will update autimatically once you will start the launcher.

Enjoy CF 2.0 !

p.s. ... At this point you may decide to check advices in CF wiki, info added there can come handy also for you. Also new launcher will be (must be) active during whole time when you will have active CF!

As NORTON 360 is "well know" for its "bad behaviour" in conjunction with Crossfire, I set up this a wee bit more extended tutorial on CF installation with NORTON. An important advice before we and You will start -> TAKE YOUR TIME, DON'T RUSH, DO IT PRECISELY! Any hurry will cause failure, any failure will cause much more time than you intended to "win", since you have to do all and I mean ALL again.

STEP 1: Prior to any action on your way to become a part of the vast Crossfire Universe, the first hurdle to take is the DOWNLOAD.

First "welcome" the NORTON:

All interesting for us will be found in "Settings" (it is the marked tab). Since I have only the german version, the "position" of the tab should be the same. And there are only the two marked sections interesting for us.

In the ANTIVIR as well as the FIREWALL section the marked options have to be set to "OFF" or "DISABLED". NORTON will ask you if you really (really?!?) want this ... Yes, your really want! Now go to mod download page and download the .zip file to whatever destination you want. Magnetic disk drive, SSD, single installed, multiple installed with whatever RAID ... even external, take an USB stick, if your Laptop main drive is filled by your collegues last holiday pic. Everything as mentioned works, just don't forget WHERE you stored the download. But in every case it works SLOWLY! This mod is due to the amount of content HUGE ... download can take 1 hour, 2 or even more. Wait and be patient! When download is ready please proceed to STEP 2.INTERMEZZO: With the settings as above there "shouldn't" be any further problem with the download. However, it "might" happen, that you get a message from NORTON about a "security risk" or even a "threat" (little window popping up from your windows task bar). There is ALWAYS a possibility in that window to look, what NORTON has done to this poor downloaded file -> CLICK IT ! In the next step it will tell you the file has been deleted/put in quarantine. BUT, it gives you also the possibility to RESTORE it to its original place, where you`ve downloaded it. In such case DO IT !. And NOW feel free to continue ...

STEP 2: You haven't done anything to the NORTON settings, as done in STEP 1! Don't you? Phheeeeww, then everything is alright! If you`re afraid of any unwanted "www-intrusions" during the following - just switch your connection OFF ! (Easy to protect yourself, isn't it?) Now you should have somewhere in the depth of your data dumps something like this:

(Please note the marked "data path" !)

You can NOW unzip the file. What gives you this:

On opening the Crossfire20setup folder you will find this:

(Again, note the marked "data path" !)

And now, JUST NOW ! install your Freelancer as shipped by Microsoft, Good Old Games or from where ever you got your unmodded "vanilla" version. You CAN also install the FreeLancerModManager (FLMM), as it comes with the downloaded mod (remember, where the installer was ? Look above !), but you may also WAIT to install FLMM in/after the next step.

And remember : You haven't done anything to the NORTON settings, as done in STEP 1. As Freelancer and FLMM are installed -> NOW and ONLY just NOW reactivate the NORTON Firewall and Antivirus, same way as it was deactivated in the STEP 1. Once done this, you can proceed to the STEP 3 ...

STEP 3: Antivirus Settings. Now return to to the "Settings" main selection page of Norton and select ... guess what:

Click on "Antivir" to reach:

Pull down the side bar to find the two marked entries. Only they are of interest here. We will deal as first with the "Elements to be excluded from Scan". Click on the blue text left (something about "Configuration", "Options", "Configure" or alike). Brings up THIS:

Shows you already what was excluded from NORTONs attention

To get there you have to click the marked "Add" button. It will give you a selection for "Files"/"Folder" AND "Data"/"Programs". You WILL HAVE TO work BOTH of them on this window:

click marked button ->

Familiar with that ? Yes it's the "usual" windows search tree. Should be an "easy going" now if you remember "The data paths" from STEP 2 And don't forget : PROGRAMS as well as FOLDERS. Now do exactly the same for Auto-Protect, SONAR and Download-Insight sections shown in the marked boxes in the second picture. And if you are done with this ... Hey You Are Done With The Antivirus! But no reason to get too comfortable M8,the next STEP 4 is waiting for you: the Firewall

STEP 4: For firewall options go back to the now for you well-known "Settings":

->

and

Only the tab "Program Rules" is of importance to us. Again you can see here what I have selected aka added to the list. Don't forget, you should have to this moment only "Freelancer" (ev. also FLMM) installed to your PC/Desktop/Laptop. It will already be a rather "lenghthy" list there. SEARCH IT ! If one the wanted programs are already listed there, then set their "Access" (the left column) for the purpose of installation to "allowed" or whatever there may be listed in the English version. You have only three options there :

"Allow"

"Block"

"Automatic"

For the programs NOT already listed - ADD them. To do so click the marked, yes you guess right "ADD" button. It will bring up:

It shows WHERE you might have to look, to find the programs .exe's which you have to add to the list shown in the other pictures.

With ONE important exception ... the Crossfire20setup.exe. This you have to find at the place, where you have unzipped your download in STEP 2. Look for it and add this also to the list and set t to "allowed". What's left ? Proceed to STEP 5

STEP 5: Well, well, what have we done so far :

we`ve got a safe and completly downloaded and unpacked version of the CF 2.0 setup.exe (STEP 1 and STEP 2)

we've convinced NORTON 360 to allow all the necassary programs and folders for FL Crossfire installation to do their job (STEP 3 and STEP 4)

we've convinced NORTON 360 to allow all the necessary programs and folders for FL Crossfire to run the game (STEP 3 and STEP 4)

Singleplayer (SP): With 2.0 is coming finished and highly updated SP campaign. Next to this was created possibility to add new side missions, and mod already contain one special Side mission, which also can be further updated/extended. All old problems which was plagued play in previous version were resolved, and almost all old missions were updated with something new. Now you really can fully enjoy play Trent's story from begin and continue with new missions through all older Crossfire chapters till an epic ending which is closing main CF storyline and with that also 10 years of this mod development. Even those who prefer mainly multi-player are advised to give SP a try, they will not regret such a decision.

Multiplayer (MP): You finished SP, You explore alone every inch in all systems? You can fight easily even the toughest NPCs? (really? ... well in 2.0 you may need few years for this ) You have tried every ship in the game? You have billions credits?... and Game gets boring !?! ... THEN let's go and start MP ! You will encounter here the most dangerous enemies you ever seen - other real players! You can play with or fight your m8s, be member or leader of Clan (which have many new possibilities like is for example possibility build and upgrade clan bases). In 2.0 are fights with NPCs even more challenging, in MP you can call for help and Your progress will be faster and play smoother. You want to be a freelancer, police officer, mercenary, smuggler or a pirate ... no problem, select one from offered server role-play (RP) and have fun. Except basic RP exists in Crossfire MP also special RP - Faction war (ASF vs CSF) where you can fight in conquest system between two group of players. Here you can use tactics, leading skills and more. Short to say: IF you really want to reveal the full potential of this mod, then come and join us on the server!

The "Multiplayer-ID" is a code that is used to identify your account on the server. That means if loose your ID, you will also loose the access to all our characters on server.

Although its an ID used to identify you server side, the server cannot recover that code again. Administrators are not able to retrieve the IDs of the players. Once you lost your ID code, your account is lost too. Therefore, we just can encourage you to store your ID separated and not on your PC (at old times people used to print something out to have a copy elsewhere).

You can find your own ID by having a look at the following file within your Freelancer\EXE folder: myflaccountid.hta

IF a server crash happens, please restart your game from launcher! Here is not need to wait or ask questions, do as we told you, RESTART WHOLE GAME after crash, and you will be fine (as also server software will like this).

It is also good to know which systems are Clan systems (check Crossfire Wiki) ... remember, in MP you are not the only one real player in the game. Breaking some clan rules can have sometime real bad consequences for you. If you still like breaking rules, then do not cry that you was not warned

This problem is in most cases from the savegame files. As you had any Freelancer mod or version installed before, when you start the game (even if you play singleplayer or not) it automatically creates a new folder with new files including a "Restart" file as savegame. More, if you started a singleplayer campaign on another version, you will also have Autosave and Savexxxx files.

Reason for this to happen ? Those Savegames are totally incompatible with Crossfire, which is a very complex mod that has everything improved, and those savegames will have conflicts with Crossfire, so the game shuts down when reading them.

What to do ? It's as simple as deleting the entire folder, which is by default located at My Documents >> My Games >> Freelancer.

Deleting the entire folder doesn't work ? Then your case is one of the very few ones... your graphic card is too low for the mod (even if you could early play Freelancer, Crossfire has heavy graphical upgrades) OR you selected some high settings when activating the mod, and so it's recommendable that you activate the low card option when activating it, this means making a fresh install of Freelancer and choosing lower options when activating Crossfire.

This anomaly happens when your graphic card is too low or not powerful enough for the effects of outer space on the settings you've chosen when activating the mod. There's no other option than making a fresh install of Freelancer and activating the mod with lower definition settings, or activating the option for low graphic cards of 128 Mb.

Happened that your security suite has reported false positive. The best you can do is send a report to your security suite Manufacturer. This will help avoid such issue for other players in the future. In meantime, as a backup solution, give whole Freeelacer folder into antivirus exclusion list. You may also read special case, related to the Norton security suite, which is also posted here in FAQ (search above).

You have corrupted your file mpnewcharacter.fl in "\Freelancer\Exe" directory. Try to compare mpnewcharacter.fl and mpnewcharacter.flmm, files should be the same. If not, try use mpnewcharacter.flmm (backup file which created by Freelancer mod manager) and rename it.

If you do not have much time for some days, weeks or even month than its a good idea to at least inform your comrades, team members or other players. One from NEW portal functions is called Absence and you can found it under menu "My profile".

It is feature for new chars and only for starting Starflier ship. You are invincible until you dock - this allow safe travel for buying new ship for new chars. You can transfer in space to new char equipment and money, and then go safe buy new ship in distant system ... WITHOUT dock on the way !!

There is one more "invincible" feature and this is only for PvP fights. Your character have less as 10 hours of play OR is your characer below lvl 40. Only one from these conditions need to be met for activate this automatic "pvp protection".

I once have written the following on the TRF forums. It works this way and in my eyes is one of the easiest possibilities. If you ask yourself how you can have serveral mods at once without doing all the procedures from installing Freelancer and activating the appropriate mod again and again, i have a following advice:

Do a regular Freelancer installation. The game is normally installed somewhere under "C:\Programms\Microsoft Games\Freelancer".

Once the installation is finished. Make a copy of the Freelancer folder to another location (e. g. C:\. You can simply copy the entire Freelancer folder by selecting it, press CTRL + C, and paste it to where ever you want with CTRL + V

Now that you have a copy - you just need the mods you want to have.

Most mods needs to be activated by the Freelancer Mod Manager tool. But there is one tiny disadvantage by this tool. You mainly can activate only one mod at once. Nevertheless the following steps explain how you can avoid deactivating other mods.

The mod that is activated is stored in the registry. So if you want to delete the information which mod is activated open the command shell (Start -> Run) type in "regedit".

Select this entry and delete it. Now if you restart the FLMM no mod should be active.

If you want to activate another mod, first rename your current Freelancer folder. Example: Freelancer___CF19

After this is done, take your copy (from point 2) and copy it again in this folder where now Freelancer___CF19 is located.

Now you should have a Freelancer___CF19 folder and a Freelancer folder

Go back to FLMM and now activate the mod you wish to play

Repeat this procedure for every other mod you want to play. I personally meanwhile have 4 different Freelancer folders with activated mods. If i want to play one of them, i rename the folder back to Freelancer (before renaming the current one). All i have to do now is to double click on the Linkage on my desktop to the Freelancer.exe.

So you only have to activate each mod once and you can play them all by just renaming the appropriate folders. Its faster and easier

On this site is available function named "Bugtracker" (under Tools in Main Menu) which purpose is to serve you with solving your troubles or gain reply on your suggestions. Remember please, that in cases when you will report some issue, you should give to us as many details as you are able.

Select the category for your bug or suggestion that you want to report.

Next select a priority the bug or suggestion means to you. (We are aware that your own reports are automatically top priority - but please choose wisely).

Finally please leave a message in the text field area that explains the bug or your suggestion.

It could be very helpful when reporting errors or bugs if you could add some information what has happened before the error occured. Also important is what error message or error codes are shown to you.

Within many of these games, players with similar interests join together and work towards their common goal. These groups are known as Clans. Clans have the option to purchase or rent their own systems, create alliances and treaties with other factions, and determine their own rules for the system(s) they own or rent.

Role-playing is adopting a role and playing the game. The roles that can be adopted vary from Pirates who attempt to make a living by preying on traders, Smugglers who attempt to move illegal cargos for profit, Police who try and stop these others and Mercenaries who work for any side, as long as they get paid.

A Clan tag is an identifier for all members of a specific clan in-game and in the forums. If you become a member of a clan, then you are required to tag each and all of your characters with the associated Clan tag to show your affiliation and membership in the clan. Each clan has their own tag, and if you decide to join one, further instructions will be provided by the leadership of your chosen clan when you are approved for membership.

If you know someone that is interested in Clan membership, please direct them to registration on the clan page and on the forum. Then post the information to the forum, so we know you have recruited them.

If you're already within a clan on the same server, you may not be a member of more than one clan in each of the games. This rule is adaptable and in certain games, if there are good reasons, it may be possible to belong to more than one clan. These issues are handled on an individual basis, please ask the SWAT-Administrators for further information.

Else if you're in a clan on another server, but on this you're a freelancer, noone will stop you joining one, just remember that making more accounts to be on more clans on the SAME server is against the rules of both server and clans, as noone wants spies.

SWAT is a Clanportal and it is possible to create new clans. If you are able to find 10 NEW members (not current SWAT members), you have the ability to create a new clan. The leader of the new clan and its members have the responsibility of defining their roleplay, renting a system (if desired), deciding on rules, contracting alliances and/or treaties with other clans, recruiting new members and maintaining the support required for all clan functions.

CSF: Confederated Strike Force:CSF goal is to render territories more independents from each other (preserving national identity and keeping the status-quo).

ASF/CSF war is role-playing conflict between two different ideologies and resources. This mean ASF vs CSF is not "good vs bad" ... at both sides can participate pirates, cops, smugglers or clans with the same classics RP. Here is full potential for usage tactics and leader skills. Players not fight alone but in groups and one separate battle in one system can persist several hours.

ASF/CSF contest is held during the last full calendar week of each month ; both RP types run concurrently (faction & open RP) .

All server clans are eligible for the ASF/CSF, and are expected to participate as much as possible. Only server clan members and qualified freelancers may mount ASF or CSF licenses for the server RP. Freelancers who have logged at least 100 hours on the CF server may register for ASF/CSF licensing on the ASF/CSF forums.

ALL licensed ships are fair game (open to attack) anywhere in the contested systems, at any time during the event week. Licenses must remain mounted for the entire event week, or the scoring system will lose accuracy.

Players may dock, but not "camp", their characters in enemy territory. There will be occasions when a player cannot return to friendly space during their online session, such as unexpected server restarts, but as a rule, players are not allowed to leave ships in enemy territory. No ship left behind enemy lines will be allowed to initiate an attack until it returns to its own faction's space and dock there, but may defend itself en route to home systems. Players may not dock in a system declared by the opposite faction to be the chosen system to be defended in a given battle, but must attack that system from an adjacent system.

Raids may be carried out against any contested system, provided the invaders survive long enough to reach it (combat can occur en route to a target system, as well). Players may use any scheme they choose to create a pretext for combat, and just play it out.

Faction members are required to at least attempt a defense of a system invaded by the enemy, and engage irrespective of the odds against them. Defenders have the prerogative to call for reinforcements prior to making a defense, and if the defenders are still outmatched in skill or numbers, they may abort the defense once they are outscored 5 kills by the attackers. Once a defense has been aborted, the defending players may not be attacked again in the same system for at least 1 hour during which time the vanquished defenders must leave the system.

Kills will be scored by the "Auto Referee", the new RP stat tool. This will sort PvP kills in each contested system by faction licences, and report these stats daily. The daily results will enable factions to plan attacks and bolster defences.Selected player Referee posts results daily

The Auto Referee will tally the kills, and determine the winner of each system once per week; system control to be decided by a 5-kill margin over the opposing faction. The 1-week period required to capture a system allows for more coordinated actions, and for players in all time zones to make a contribution to the battle over each system. All system wins and losses will be posted together; for example, ASF may win 4 systems and CSF 3 different systems in the same week.

The revised political map gives each faction control of 23 systems. When one faction captures 15 of these systems (67%) , it is declared the winner of the campaign, and the map is reset. A running campaign score will be kept on the role play board, like a sports rivalry.